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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012
So little is known respecting the sepulchral usages of the early, or rather the middle Christian period, when Paganism still sought to maintain its deeply-rooted superstitions beneath even the very garb of Christianity, that any authentic notice, however imperfect, will, it may be hoped, prove acceptable and possibly useful. In such a hope I venture to beg the attention of the Society to certain mystic practices of Christian interments of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, but chiefly to that of depositing written, or rather engraved, formulæ of absolution in the tomb with the remains of the deceased.
page 299 note a “It is a custom at this day in Catholic countries to deposit crosses with the dead, as well with the clergy as laity. It would be useless to enlarge on this subject, as many discoveries and books concur to prove the custom of interring crosses with Christians.” (Douglas, Nenia Britannica, p. 68.) Unfortunately he does not cite his authorities.
page 300 note a Lincoln volume. Cat. Antiquities Exhibited, p. 44.
page 300 note b Of this we have historic evidence in England in the reign of Henry III., viz. the case of the interment of the Earl of Pembroke, in Matthew Paris.
page 300 note c Annales Ord. S. Benedicti, vol. vi. p. 356, ed. Paris, 1739.
page 300 note d Absolutio Petri Abaëlardi his verbis concepta est.
“Ego, Petrus Cluniacensis Abbas, qui Petrum Abaëlardum in monachum Cluniacensem recepi, et corpus ejus furtim delatum Heloissæ Abbatissæ et monialibus Paracliti concessi, auctoritate omnipotentis Dei et omnium sanctorum absolvo eum pro officio ab omnibus peccatis suis.” Mabillon, Ann. S. Benedict.
page 301 note a Lucan. Pharsalia, 1. vi. 1. 767.
page 301 note b In Rationale Div. Off. 1. vii. c. 35, De Off. Mortuorum.
page 301 note c “Aquam benedictam ac prunas cum ture apponerent.” C. 161, De Divinis Officiis.
page 301 note d Alb. Pedo, Eleg. 2. 1. 141.
page 302 note a Propertius, Eleg. lib. iii. 16, 1. 23.
page 302 note b Ausonius, Epitaph, 36.
page 302 note c Greg. Turon. l. ii. 37.
page 302 note d “Deinde ponitur in spelunca, in qua in quibusdam locis ponitur aqua benedicta et prunæ cum ture. Aqua benedicta ne demones qui multum eam timent, ad corpus accedant; solent namque desævire in corpora mortuorum, ut quod nequiverunt in vita, saltem post mortem agant. Thus propter fætorem corporis removendum, seu ut defunctus creatori suo acceptabilem bonorum operum odorem intelligatur obtulisse, seu ad ostendendum quod defunctis prosit auxilium orationis. Carbones in testimonium quod terra illa in communes usus amplius redigi non potest; plus enim durat carbo sub terra quam aliud. Hedera quoque, vel laurus, et hujusmodi quæ semper servant virorem, in sarcophago corpori substernuntur, . . . . . . . . . . . . Fiunt enim hæc, non quia cadaveribus insit sensus, sed in figuram.”—De Off. Mortuorum.
page 303 note a “Hunc morem, qui sæcul. xiii. in desuetudinem abiit, prioribus sæculis viguisse vascula multa figlina in sepulcris Gallicis subinde inventa testantur, etc.” Mus. Schapfl. p. 147; Argentorati, 1773.
page 303 note b Sous les ossements nous recuellîmes les fragments de deux petites urnes, dont l'une avait été posée sous les pieds, l'autre sous la tête du défunt. Ces urnes d'une terre blanchâtre, et d'une couverte d'un beau vert, contenaient du charbon.” Soc. Archeologique de l'Arrond. de Dieppe.
page 303 note c Holinshed's Chronicle, vol. ii. p. 337.
page 304 note a Cap. 28, Aquisgr.
“Episcopos monemus, etc. . . . . . . . . et ut superstitiones quas quibusdam in locis in exequiis mortuorum nonnulli faciunt, eradicant.” Conc. Ant. Galliæ, vol. iii. ed. Sirmond.
page 304 note b Can. xii. “Non licet mortuis nec eucharistiam nec osculum tradi; nec velo vel pallis corpora eorum involvi.” Concilia Ant. Galliæ, vol. i. p. 368.
page 304 note c Ibid. vol. iii. p. 607.